I grew up in NZ in the 70's/80's, and I'd take Smith as my keeper every time. It may be some of the earlier keepers like Wadsworth or Mooney were better keepers, but having never seen them play I can't really choose them. Smith hardly missed a chance and he scored some pretty handy runs. I agree he's not as good a batsman as McCullum but in a lower order with some or all of Reid/Cairns/Hadlee/Vettori likely to be selected, I'd happily give up 10 runs per innings to have him behind the sticks.

Despite the fact that he never batted at three, that he and Sutcliffe batting together would slow the run rate to a crawl and that Hobbs basically made everyone he batted with better. To me it has to be Hobbs and Hutton, two out right no. 1 openers with Hammond at three.

Hutton was a good captain who was very forward thinking with his ideas who just didn't stick with them long eneough.
Also the same way one doesn't weaken the middle order of the West Indies to play Worrell, or play him or Headley in positions that they didn't play by opening with them, shouldn't do the same here either.